Course Information

Title:	BA (Hons) Archaeology & Landscape History
Curriculum Area:	Mathematics and Science

Course Length          

The full-time option takes three years to complete.
The part-time option is flexible but normally takes six years to complete.

Who is it for?          

This course is an exciting opportunity to study the increasingly popular subjects of archaeology and landscape history together by offering a multi-period, skills and techniques approach to understanding the development of human activity in northern Europe, from prehistory to the 21st century as well as the human impact on the whole landscape from fen and coast to upland, from farmed landscapes to urban and industrial areas. You will develop skills in the variety of methods and techniques used to provide fascinating and accurate information to piece together past human activity - these include fieldwalking, geophysics, handling artefacts, maps and written sources.

Being located on the edge of the fen, studying in Peterborough provides an ideal opportunity to study the archaeology and landscape of wetlands. This focus is supported by involvement with the important heritage site, Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre. In addition, you can visit and study current work taking place in the East Anglian fenland and adjacent valley landscapes. Current fieldwork projects include the Roman villa landscape of the lower Nene valley, the medieval and modern landscapes of a Fenland Abbey and its community and soils / wallplaster analysis engaging with local archaeological units and other universities, as well as offering specialist support for TV's Time Team programme.

This local theme is set within the wider context of excavation and landscape studies throughout Britain and Europe and delivered within a framework which is flexible, innovative and challenging.



What will I need?          

Grade C or above in GCSE English and one of the following - either a full Access Certificate (in a relevant subject); two A Levels; BTEC National in a related subject; or if you are a mature student and do not qualify by any of these routes, please contact the College
and discuss admission on previous qualifications and experience.

What is covered?          

Level 1:
• Principles and methods of archaeology and landscape history
• Resource and heritage management
• Themes in archaeology and landscape history
• Field placement

Level 2:
• Ritual landscapes
• Prehistoric European wetlands
• Science and archaeology
• Ancient technologies: fieldwork
• Heritage placement (work experience)

Level 3:
• Urban and industrial landscapes
• Buildings in the landscape
• Roman Britain and North Gaul
• Options e.g. Roman economy, surveying or estates and gardens
• Dissertation

Attendance          

The full-time option is taught over two days per week, plus a number of Saturdays / Sundays and a placement, over three years.
The part-time option is usually studied for one day per week and takes up to six years to complete.

How is the course assessed?          

A combination of essays, logbooks, reports, seminar presentations, practical reports and fieldwork, written exams and a dissertation.

What can this course lead to?          

Career opportunities:
The course is an ideal foundation for careers within the archaeological and heritage industries, for example, professional archaeological units, museums and heritage attractions in positions such as museum manager, teacher/lecturer, education officer, community outreach worker, heritage marketing officer and local authority planning officer. The course offers essential skills which can be used in affiliated areas such as forensic investigation, historical research and television / media research.

Postgraduate courses:
The course also provides the academic and practical skills which are ideal for further development at postgraduate level. Previous students have gone on to study courses such as MSc in Osteoarchaeology. Other options available include masters degrees in heritage studies, environmental archaeology, forensic archaeology, history, ancient history, classical civilizations and art history.

UCAS Code:          

V400 (full-time applications only)
Part-time applications can be made directly to the University Centre.